By Roman Soto
Political ideology has officially popped the mindless online bubble that you created for yourself. Especially with the upcoming midterm elections, influencers across social media platforms increasingly weigh in on fiscal, social, and domestic policies. In a modern political world powered by naive internet media, an ethical dilemma arises: Does the public deserve explicit acknowledgment when a political campaign funds a content creator? With so many over-the-top media sources spewing barrages of political opinions, who’s really leveraging the words that leave these influencers’ mouths?
Platforms like TikTok or Instagram already require content creators to include paid
partnership disclaimers; however, a new bill passed by the California Senate aims to better enforce the pre-existing requirement and fine content creators who “don’t disclose they were paid to post in support of a political candidate or issue on the ballot.” With an emphasis on transparency, the California lawmakers ensure that voters’ stances are not misled by anonymously financed media.
Recently, some politicians have participated in online swaying tactics: Katie Porter, a former U.S. Representative, funded the videos of multiple lifestyle content creators to film promotional posts. Proof of Porter’s endorsement could only be identified through her campaign’s financial records—not on the social media posts. In the same fashion, similar acts occur by larger political committees or firms like the Republican National Committee (RNC) who funnel thousands of dollars through digital brand/creator junctions like Creator Grid to connect with creators of conservative beliefs. Conversely, the number of loopholes found raises the need for stricter transparency.
The bill brings visibility to a legal gray area in federal law that conflicts with the strict required disclaimers of social media platforms. Currently, very few states—including California and Texas—have laws that require explicit statements of political support.
Thus, with all this in mind, capable voters of America must tread the invading world of political social media attentively, cautiously, and steadfastly.